Google+ Goes Public!! Its Open TO All !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Google launched its social networking platform in June 2011, allowing users to sign up to Google's social network with an invitation. The company has now introduced "open sign-ups". Google integrated its flagship search engine into its 3-month old social network -- with membership now open to the Internet public -- and expanded its "Hangouts" video-chat feature to allow mobile use and broadcasting.

On its company blog, Vic Gundotra, senior vice-president of engineering, said: "For the past 12 weeks we've been in field trial. We're nowhere near done but with the improvements we've made so far we're ready to move from field trial to beta and introduce our 100th feature: open sign-ups. This way anyone can visit Google+, join the project and connect with the people they care about."Eden Zoller, principal analyst at Ovum, said Google+ completes the company's portfolio of services.

Google has even shoved a reference to Google+ on its search homepage, by pointing a blue arrow to a link labelled "You+". Despite that, many would claim Google+ is still searching for its G-spot.And a user can now host an online broadcast with this feature -- recording a session and broadcasting it live for public access online. Black Eyed Peas front man will.i.am will host the first "Hangout on Air" on Wednesday, Google said.Zoller said the biggest challenge for Google will be in differentiating against Facebook. "This won't be easy as Facebook is quick to introduce new features and has had the benefit of being able to watch the trial of Google+ prior to its beta launch this week," he said.

"Google has been slow to formulate a coherent social networking strategy, which is more than an oversight given the assets Google has in this area and the fact that strong social networks have scale, thriving developer communities, big audiences and a monetisation strategy based on advertising. This is core to Google's own interests - and of course other social networks already established in the market,"said Eden Zoller, principal analyst at Ovum

"Hangouts should keep pace with how you socialize in the real-world, so today we're launching it on the one device that's always by your side: your mobile phone," senior vice president of engineering Vic Gundotra said on the blog post.Google did not say how many people had signed up for Google+ so far, but confirmed the social network was now open to all, whereas previously it had been invitation-only. Analysts estimate upward of 25 million users have joined Google+ since its inception.

The company also made its search engine available from within the social network. Users can search from Google+ and get results not just on the network, but from the worldwide Internet.Google's infant social network, which counts Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg as a member, has met skepticism so far. Some are waiting to see if it can maintain the rapid momentum of its first months.